Toward the end of November you will receive the Heimatbuch 2001/2002
der Landsmannschaft der Deutschen aus Russland.

The Landsmannschaft hereby continues a tradition begun a long 47
years ago. In these years the number of Heimatbücher issues
has grown to 26. It is you, our readers, we have to thank for being
able to continue this series, and for two reasons:

For one, it is our members who consistently make their contributions
available for use in our Heimatbücher without expecting payment
for them. Also, in addition to contributions from those mentioned
previously, we have benefited from those of new authors among those
working with us. They all deserve our sincere thanks and respect
and will here be named, in alphabetic order:

We have published a total of 43 contributions in this new Heimatbuch
and have grouped them within the following chapters: "Sixty
Years of Expulsion," "War and Peace," "Home
Provided by Faith," "Life Images," "Your Mother
Tongue," "Distant Homes," and "Volk auf dem
Weg" ["People on a Journey"]. They reach far back
into the history of the Germans from Russia, but as ever they also
concentrate on the Thirties and Forties of the previous century,
and some of them also deal with the most recent years.

We ask for indulgence and patience of all authors whose contributions
could not be included in this issue. If possible, we shall attempt
to publish in future Heimatbüchern all of the articles we have
received.

Just as we thank the authors, we extend equal gratitude to our
readers. We know very well that publication of further Heimatbücher
would be impossible without your uninterrupted willingness to contribute
monetarily. We are also certain that your financial contributions
are always applied wisely - as much for you yourselves as for your
children and grandchildren, who are able to learn via these Heimatbücher
how people lived in times past.

The Heimatbücher constitute our collective accomplishment
and contribution toward the continuing appraisal of the history
of Germans from Russia, an accomplishment of which we can be proud!

Hans Kampen and Johann Kampen
Heimatbuch Editors

Our appreciation is extended to Alex Herzog for translation
of this article.

Permission
to use any images from the GRHC website may be requested
by contacting Michael
M. Miller